James alert car seat

ABSTRACT

The James Alert Car Seat is an alarm system for a baby seat that allows a user to activate a monitoring unit by simply fastening a child into a car seat. A set of wireless alert units attached to a set of keys or other convenient object will vibrate or beep if the user moves further than a preset distance from the vehicle, preventing a user from accidentally leaving a child in a car seat. The James Alert Car Seat is comprised of a conventional infant car seat equipped with a plastic base, padded fabric cover, nylon safety straps with a metal buckle fastening system, a sensor switch located on the metal buckle fastening system that activates and deactivates the seat&#39;s monitor system, and a wireless alert unit capable of receiving a signal from the seat&#39;s monitor system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional Patent Application does not claim priority to anyUnited States Provisional Application or foreign patent application.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosures made herein relate generally to safety devices for babyseats and the like. The invention discussed herein is in the generalclassification of seat alarms.

BACKGROUND

One of a parent's worst fears is accidentally leaving a baby inside acar after departing from the vehicle. Many child-related fatalities fromheat or cold have occurred because a parent or caregiver accidentallyleft a child in a car seat. In addition, accidentally leaving a child ina car seat can result in other types of injury to a child and increasethe likelihood of the kidnapping of a child. To date, no child car seathas adequately addressed the need to alert a parent or caregiver of thechild's presence in the car should he accidentally forget to take thechild with him when he departs the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, the James Alert Car Seat allows a caregiver to activate amonitoring unit by simply fastening a child into a car seat. A set ofwireless alert units attached to a set of keys or other convenientobject attached to the caregiver will vibrate or beep if the caregivermoves further than a preset distance from the vehicle withoutdeactivating the monitor by unbuckling the child, thereby preventing auser from accidentally leaving a child in a car seat.

In one embodiment of the invention, the James Alert Car Seat includes aconventional infant car seat equipped with a plastic base, padded fabriccover, nylon safety straps with a metal buckle fastening system, asensor switch located on the metal buckle fastening system thatactivates and deactivates the seat's monitor system, and a wirelessalert unit capable of receiving a signal from the seat's monitor system.

Although the device described herein is often referred to in conjunctionwith a car seat or baby seat, it should be understood that such a devicecould be used for a variety of types of seats.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a car seat andalarm system that prevents a user from accidentally leaving a child inhis seat after the user departs from a vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of theJames Alert Car Seat.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of the wireless alert units for usewith the James Alert Car Seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The James Alert Car Seat of the present invention is comprised of atleast some of the following: a conventional infant car seat equippedwith a plastic base, padded fabric cover, nylon safety straps with ametal buckle fastening system, a sensor switch located on the bucklefastening system that activates and deactivates the seat's monitorsystem, and a wireless alert unit capable of receiving a signal from theseat's monitor system.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 1, a seat 1with arm rests 2 is connected to a back rest 3. The back rest 3 has ahead rest 4 on top. The seat 1, arm rests 2, back rest 3, and head rest4 are all covered with a padded fabric 5. Safety straps 6 protrude fromthe back rest 3 and seat 1. The safety straps 6 are made of nylon andthe seat 1 has a plastic base 7. On one end of the safety straps 6 ametal end protrusion (not pictured) fits into a corresponding metalbuckle 8. A sensor switch 9 is located on the metal buckle 8. Aninsulated wire 10 connects on one end to a monitor 11 mounted on theback rest 3 and on the other end to the strap protruding from the seat 1such that the end of the wire 10 contacts or almost contacts the sensorswitch 9 located on the metal buckle 8 when the end protrusion and metalbuckle 8 are connected.

The monitor 11 is equipped with a rechargeable battery (not pictured). Asafety arm 12 with a pad 13 is also attached to the rear of the backrest and maneuverable over the child once he is placed in the seat 1.

FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thewireless alert units 20. The wireless alert units 20 are designed todetect a signal from the monitor when the monitor is activated after themetal end protrusion and metal buckle are connected. The wireless alertunits 20 are attached to a key ring 21 for convenient use and are alsoequipped with a battery.

The James Alert Car Seat is designed to remind a user of a baby'spresence in a car seat should he accidentally forget the baby when hedeparts from a vehicle. It allows the user to activate a monitoring unitby simply fastening a child into a car seat. A set of wireless alertunits attached to a set of keys or other convenient object will vibrateor beep if the user moves further than a preset distance from thevehicle, preventing a user from accidentally leaving a child in a carseat. The same type of wireless monitoring system could also be used ina baby carriage to prevent a parent or caregiver from wandering too farfrom a baby carriage.

In addition, the monitor can be equipped with the same technology usedfor locating stolen vehicles. The monitor could emit a signal that canbe located through the use of a global positioning system. The monitorcan also be powered through the use of a cord that plugs into acigarette lighter in a car.

The components of the James Alert Car Seat may vary but will likelyutilize plastics, fabric, metal, and electronic components.

Ideally, the James Alert Car Seat is constructed of the best qualitymaterials commonly accepted and used in the manufacturing industrytoday. The metals would ideally be selected from available steel oralloys of steel and aluminum. The production process related to the useof these metals insures that the metal is non-corrosive, durable andstrong. The selected metal should have high impact strength and becapable of accepting and retaining coloring materials for an extendedlength of time.

Plastic may be used in the production process of the James Alert CarSeat. The plastic used in the production will ideally be selected fordurability and longevity. Thermoplastics are commonly used in themanufacturing of components similar to those used in this invention.Polyethylene, polypropylene, and other similar thermoplastic materialswould be among those with the necessary traits. Members of this familyare recognized universally as being versatile and of high quality.

The plastic components of the James Alert Car Seat can also be formedwith the use of plastic molding techniques, such as injection molding orblow molding. Injection molding requires melted plastic to be forcefullyinjected into relatively cool molds. As the plastic begins to harden, ittakes on the shape of the mold cavity. This technique is ideal for themass production of products. Alternatively, blow molding, a form ofextrusion, could be utilized. Blow molding involves a molten tube beingpushed into a mold. Compressed air then forces the molten tube againstthe cold walls of the mold.

All electronic components of the invention will also be ideally selectedfrom those currently having the highest industry ratings. Thesecomponents will also meet and/or exceed all safety and usageregulations. Wiring and associated connecting hardware should beinsulated and otherwise protected from intrusion by any harmful ordegrading elements, including water, medium level temperatures, and lowto medium impact force.

It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes ormodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include allchanges and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

For example, but not by way of limitation, a pressure sensor could beutilized instead of the electronic sensor discussed herein. In thisembodiment, the sensor is activated by the weight of a child placed inthe car seat or stroller. If a user wanders too far from the car seat orstroller while the pressure sensor is still activated by the weight ofthe child, the parent or caregiver will be alerted via an audible alarmor vibration from the wireless alert.

1. A car seat and alarm system comprising: (a) a seat; (b) a back restattached to the seat; (c) a first safety strap and a second safety strapattached to the seat; (d) an end protrusion on the first safety strapand a buckle on the second safety strap; (e) a sensor switch located onthe buckle; (f) a wire attached to a monitor on one end and the firstsafety strap on the other end; and (g) a wireless alert unit equippedwith a battery and capable of detecting a signal from the monitor. 2.The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 further comprising a set of armrests.
 3. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the firstsafety strap and second safety strap are made of nylon.
 4. The car seatand alarm system of claim 1 wherein the first safety strap protrudesfrom the seat and the second safety strap protrudes from the back rest.5. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the end protrusionand the buckle are made of metal.
 6. The car seat and alarm system ofclaim 1 wherein the wireless alert unit vibrates when activated.
 7. Thecar seat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the wireless alert unitmakes an audible sound when activated.
 8. The car seat and alarm systemof claim 1 wherein a battery is located within the monitor.
 9. The carseat and alarm system of claim 1 wherein the wireless alert unit isattached to a key ring.
 10. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1wherein the monitor emits a signal detectable by a global positioningsystem.
 11. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 further comprisinga base attached to the bottom of the seat.
 12. The car seat and alarmsystem of claim 11 wherein the base is made of plastic.
 13. The car seatand alarm system of claim 2 wherein the seat, the set of arm rests, andthe back rest are covered with a padded fabric.
 14. The car seat andalarm system of claim 1 further comprising a safety arm attached to therear of the back rest and maneuverable over the back rest.
 15. The carseat and alarm system of claim 14 further comprising a pad located onthe safety arm.
 16. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1 furthercomprising a head rest attached to the top of the back rest and coveredwith a padded fabric.
 17. The car seat and alarm system of claim 1wherein the monitor has a power cord.
 18. The car seat and alarm systemof claim 1 wherein the monitor is mounted to the rear of the back rest.19. A baby carriage and alarm system comprising: (a) a seat attached toa frame with a plurality of legs; (b) said legs having a plurality ofwheels; (c) a first safety strap and a second safety strap attached tothe seat; (d) an end protrusion on the first safety strap and a buckleon the second safety strap; (e) a sensor switch located on the buckle;(f) a wire attached to a monitor on one end and the first safety strapon the other end; (g) a battery located within the monitor; and (h) awireless alert unit equipped with a battery and capable of detecting asignal from the monitor.
 20. A car seat and alarm system comprising: (a)a seat; (b) a back rest; (c) a first safety strap and a second safetystrap attached to the seat; (d) an end protrusion on the first safetystrap and a buckle on the second safety strap; (e) a weight sensor padlocated under the seat; (f) a wire attached to a monitor on one end andthe weight sensor pad on the other end; (g) a battery located within themonitor; and (h) a wireless alert unit equipped with a battery andcapable of detecting a signal from the monitor.